Index card



NOV. 21, 1933. MEYERS 1,936,558

INDEX CARD Filed Aug. 15, 1930 INVENTOR. %7QZZ1 v 'AT ORNEY Patented Nov. 21, 1933 INDEX CARD Joseph M. Meyers, Remington Rand of Delaware Pittsburgh, Pa, assigncr to Ina,

Buffalo, N. Y., a corpo- August 15, 1936. Serial No. 475,537

5 Claims. (Cl. lee-ass) My invention refers to improvements in card index systems, and particularly to the adjustable portion of a card thereof, for identification'or location of any particular portion of the card or marking thereon, as a date, subject, or action indicia.

In such card systems, the cards are arranged alphabetically or otherwise in a holder or set for ready examination or selection, each card contaning reference information of various kinds. It is also customary to provide adjustable devices of various kinds capable of being set from time to time along the edge of the card to assist or inform the user of any particular fact, as a maturing or action-taking date, relating to the information or business covered by the card.

In my invention I utilize an ordinary fiat stiif paper card, in which are pressed or molded one or more longitudinal grooves, together with a movably mounted indicator, slidably engaging the groove or grooves, while still having a firm norreally inseparable connection laterally.

The improvement, in one preferred form, is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:-

Fig. l is a perspective view of a card provided with my improvement; V

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on the line II-II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2 showg a modified construction;

Fig. 4 is an edge view of a blank from which e shifting indicator is formed;

Fig. 5 is an edge view of the indicator;

6 is a face View of the same, detached;

'7 is a similar face View showing a modified construction;

Fig. 8 is a face view of a further modified construction;

Fig. 9 is an edge view of Referring to the drawing, A is an index card, similar in proportions and function to those commonly employed in many card index systems in general use, adapted to be mounted or assembled in a case, drawer, or other receptacle, either vertically or horizontally, for purposes of easy inspection.

Card A is provided along one of its edges, either upper or lower, with a movable or shifting ind cat-or B, for the purpose of bringing it into register with any particular unitary data or indicia imprinted or otherwise marked along the edge of the card, as indicated, and capable of adjustment in eit er direction, of firmly maintaining its the construction of position against accidental disturbance or dislocation.

The indicator B is preferably provided with an opening 2 for exposure of a limited area of the card within such opening. The indicator itself is made of a blank 3 of thin sheet metal, as copper, aluminum, celluloid, or other suitable light material, capable of being bent upon itself and of maintaining such bent or deformed position.

Blank 3 is provided at one or both ends with a short lip, lug or flange 4, and the blank is bent upon itself as at 5, so as to form outer and inner parallel walls 6 and 7 respectively, with the lug or lugs 4 disposed inwardly, as in Fig. 5.

As thus formed, the indicator B is adapted to be slidably mounted along the edgeof card A in the manner of a clip, longitudinally adjustable as stated, and with the inwardly extending lugs 4 in embracing engagement with the opposite sides of the card.

For the purpose of providing trackways along the card, it is grooved or channelled at one or both sides, as at a, by subjecting the card to rollers or other suitable means, whereby to crease or indent it longitudinally from one end to the other, in a permanent manner. 1

The groove or grooves a are of such a size and depth as to receive the inwardly extending lug or lugs 4 when the indicator is inserted over one end of the card, firmly gripping it with considerable friction and also providing ample holding effect against lateral displacement or removal.

In Fig. 3, I show a modification, utilizing both lugs but providing only one corresponding groove for the same purpose and effect. Where but one groove is utilized, as for one or the other of the lugs, it will produce substantially the same effect, the other lug bearing frictionally' against the plane surface of the card.

The construction of the indicator itself, aside from its facility of operation purely as an indicator, likewise afiords an easy and convenient holding device, by which the cards may be manipulated or shifted. 1

When desirable to expose the full edge surface of the card the opening 2 is extended clear to the inside edge 13 of the bend 5, co-extensive with the edge of card A, as in Fig. 7.

In Figs. 8 and 9 I show a further modified construction in which the indicator is provided with a supplemental upper or outer extension 8, having a window or sight opening 9 through one or both opposite sides of the extension 8. Such extension is eifected by use of an extra long blank CTI bent midway of its formation beyond location of the usual top 5, at which point the opposite sides of the blank are brought together in abutting relationship, as indicated at 10.

The construction below such point is substantially the same as that above described, and the supplemental extension 8 is formed by the spaced apart sides with the intervening space 11, the indicator being rounded or closed at the top as at 12, similar to the usual upper edge 5. By such construction I provide not only an extended grasping formation, but at the same time utilize the space 11 between the extended walls for insertion of a small card or other device having a suitable imprint for reading or inspection through the opening 9. In case the indicator is made of celluloid, providing visibility, the opening 9 may be omitted' Otherwise the clip and its holding action and movement along the edge of the card is substantially the same as already described. 7

I have found also that movement of the indicator along the card tends to more definitely Wear and deepen the grooves a, and that the indicator may even be applied to a plane ungrooved card, and will by its lugs 4 form corresponding grooves.

The construction, operation, use, and advantages of the invention will be readily understood and appreciated by all those familiar with the use of index cards. It is comparatively simple, cheap and effective, and greatly contributes to the usefulness and efficiency of the ordinary card index system.

The device may be changed, or modified by the skilled mechanic as to variations in size, design, or otherwise, but all such changes are to be understood as within the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with an index card having oppositely located longitudinal grooves, a slidable indicator thereon having redoubled embracing side Walls each having an inwardly extending lip engaging one of said grooves, one of said side walls having a sight opening.

2. In combination with an index card having an indented longitudinal groove on each ofthe opposite sides adjacent one margin, a slidable indicator consisting of a blank of thin sheet material bent upon itself at the spaced-apart slot-like opening between the opposite parallel walls, one of said walls having a sight opening, the walls being brought together top to provide and then formed into spaced apart parallel walls for card embracing engagement, each of said walls having an inwardly extending lip, said last named parallel walls straddling said margin of the card with said lips resiliently engaging in the grooves thereof.

3. In combination with an index card having an elongated groove on each of the opposite sides adjacent a common margin, a slidable indicator comprising a strip of resilient material bent upon itself to form spaced front and back walls and inwardly extending lips on the extremity of each of the walls, said indicator straddling said. margin of the card with its lips resiliently engaging in corresponding slots on the card.

4. An index comprising a record card formed of a paper sheet, said sheet having a portion scored to provide a groove along one margin and in one face parallel to the adjacent edge, and an indicator of sheet metal formed to provide a pair of spaced wall portions of unequal length engaging opposite faces of the margin of said card, said indicator having a portion joining said wall portions beyond said edge, and a laterally inwardly direc'te tip on the shorter wall portion substantially perpendicular to said sheet slidably engaging in said groove, said tip lying over the opposite wall portion and cooperating to normally retain said indicator on said sheet against movement other than sliding movement in said groove.

5. An index comprising a record card formed or" a paper sheet having a portion scored along one margin inwardly from the edge to provide a groove substantially parallel to said edge, and an indicator formed of a strip of sheet metal having opposite ends formed to provide wall portions of unequal length arranged in spaced substantially parallel relation, an intermediate portion of the strip connecting said wall portions at one end and the opposite ends terminating in offset relation, the shorter wall portion having the free end formed with a substantially perpendicular inwardly extending lip directed toward an intermediate portion of the other wall portion, said I lip slidably engaging in said groove and said other wall portion lying on the opposite side of the margin of said card and cooperating with the card to retain said lip in said groove, whereby said indicator is slidable along the margin of said card and normally retained thereon against detachment by movement laterally on said margin.

JOSEPH M. MEYERS. 

